It is not uncommon for people to respond to our Opinion pages in one of two ways:

Don’t you know Midland is a conservative city? If so, why are you so liberal?

Or, Midland isn’t just a bunch of conservatives; represent all Midlanders.

Admittedly we get more of the first, which makes sense because Midlanders have generally voted 75 percent to 80 percent Republican in general elections going back to 2000.

Are we conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, to the right or left? It’s a debate we always enjoy.

But admittedly, this past week that debate took a most interesting spin. A reader called in and told us we are too liberal because we ran a cartoon that depicted Donald Trump in a bad light. The reader wanted to know why must we be anti-Trump and why couldn’t we be more conservative — as if the two were connected.

This brings us to a point lost during the most interesting primary contest in decades.

Being against Donald Trump doesn’t make you a liberal. In fact if you are a Republican and you cringe at the idea of a Trump nomination, that probably accentuates your conservative credentials.

We, like most in the media, were wrong about the idea of how far Trump could go. It’s hard to envision a scenario that doesn’t conclude with Republicans having to call the reality TV star/real estate mogul their nominee. He has run a campaign for the ages, and we give him credit.

But Trump fans are in no position to lecture anyone on conservative credentials. Is he anti-establishment? Probably. Is the signature issue of his campaign the “fantastic” border wall that he will make Mexico pay for? Definitely. But do either make him a conservative? No.

Donald Trump is no fiscal conservative. His plan might lower taxes, but the average American will need the help because products at the grocery store and other retailers are sure to cost more as he gets serious on trade. Additionally, he doesn’t have a plan to reform entitlements, which are the real drivers of our nation’s long-term debt.

Donald Trump isn’t a social conservative. This probably goes without saying. If your litmus test begins and ends with abortion, he can’t be trusted. There are those riding the Trump bandwagon because of his stance on deporting all illegal immigrants. You are likely one-issue voters, and those expecting all illegal immigrants to be deported during a Trump presidency will be disappointed.

On defense, Donald Trump won’t make America safer like Ronald Reagan or George H.W. Bush. We expect he will be more of an isolationist than anything.

Lastly, conservatism isn’t about turning your back on Hispanics, waging war with an entire religion, inciting violence between people in our country and making women feel like second-class citizens.

If you need any more proof of Trump’s conservative credentials, just look at the people likely to drive Trump to the nomination — a combination of disenchanted Democrats and Republicans who typically sit out the primary and vote in the general election. Those are not exactly the most conservative of the GOP bunch.

In the end, Republicans will be stuck with Trump, a New York billionaire with more ties to Hollywood than West Texas. He is a new breed of politician who saw the light of conservatism when it became apparent a run to the White House would have to go through the GOP and not the Democratic Party.

You may not like what someone writes about Trump or how a cartoonist portrays him. It really might make your blood boil. If that is the case, call us or write a letter to the editor. Tell us how we are wrong. Remind us we don’t get that people are mad. Let us know Trump is the solution. Just don’t read from his “Making America Great” talking points and state that your contempt has anything to do with anyone’s conservatism because as much as you would like to believe it, Trump is no conservative. Never was and never will be.